ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
22 November 2010, 03:39 PM | #1 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Is Everything
Posts: 205
|
Why not a titanium Rolex?
Rolex likes to espouse the virtues of their 904l steel, and this got me thinking. Why is there not a titanium Rolex? Titanium would be more durable while offering some other benefits. I know Panerai makes some models, and compared to their steel siblings, they are much lighter; I also happen to like the slightly darker look that titanium offers. It seems that watches like the Submariner or Explorer models would be a perfect fit for this metal.
|
22 November 2010, 03:42 PM | #2 |
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Real Name: N/A
Location: N/A
Watch: 2010 SS/Black SubC
Posts: 773
|
DSSD has a titanium caseback.
|
22 November 2010, 03:52 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: HB, CA
Posts: 15
|
I agree, the Explorer's and the Sub's would be prefect in titanium. I have an Omega Seamaster in titanium and it is sooo light.
|
22 November 2010, 04:04 PM | #4 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Malaysia
Watch: SM300+14060M
Posts: 2,012
|
hope rolex gon develope more titanium models...i lov da titanium !
|
22 November 2010, 05:03 PM | #5 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Real Name: Barry
Location: california
Watch: OFFICINE PANERAI
Posts: 1,289
|
Maybe a titanium DSSD then I'm IN!!
__________________
|
22 November 2010, 05:18 PM | #6 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Alan
Location: Offshore
Watch: 116610LN 116613LB
Posts: 219
|
Yes a Titanium DSSD would be sweet!
|
22 November 2010, 05:19 PM | #7 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: singapore
Posts: 6,424
|
Not for me, but sure, maybe it is time Rolex used titanium more extensively.
|
22 November 2010, 05:27 PM | #8 |
Banned
Join Date: Jul 2010
Real Name: Sam
Location: UK
Watch: AP ☠️
Posts: 6,151
|
I'm no expert but know of issues with Ti cases fusing together.
This maybe one area of concern, secondly I did find my Ti carrera marked very easily ! Sam |
22 November 2010, 05:35 PM | #9 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 37,534
|
Not a fan of Ti. Always feels like aluminium to me.
__________________
E |
22 November 2010, 10:15 PM | #10 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Real Name: Chris
Location: England
Posts: 8,150
|
It doesn't make sense for Rolex to use Titanium - for starters, Rolex's grade of steel is a major selling point, and pretty much unique (bar one or two examples) in the watch world. It's highly polishable, highly durable, and feels nice too - substantial, without feeling heavy. I always find titanium just too light, makes the watch feel cheap - it's not as nice to look at either, it's a bit duller than steel. You can maybe understand watch manufacturers using titanium when their steel models are so heavy, but the whole Rolex range, even the Deepsea, is pretty manageable.
|
22 November 2010, 10:16 PM | #11 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: TSW
Location: Le Brassus
Watch: Rolex & AP's
Posts: 27,449
|
__________________
AP Owners Club IG @swiss.watch.connection |
22 November 2010, 10:18 PM | #12 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2010
Real Name: Dan
Location: USA
Watch: This N That
Posts: 34,253
|
I personally like I little bit of weight to my watch. From what I understand Titanium is very light. Don't realy prefer something that feels like tin or aluminium.
|
22 November 2010, 11:02 PM | #13 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Real Name: Ashley
Location: Brisbane
Watch: Rolex Sub 1680 '79
Posts: 2,301
|
Wearing a 220g Omega daily, the sub steel feels like a very, very light piece of metal. If you made it out of Ti, it would weigh well under 100g, that's just too little and it'd feel like a bangle rather than a watch.
Scratches on Ti look ugly too while satin steel hides them.
__________________
-- Omega Seamaster Grand-Lux Stepped Pie-Pan 14K Gold OJ2627 '53 --
-- Omega Cal 320 Chronograph 18K Gold OT2872 '58 -- -- Omega Cal 321 Speedmaster Pro 145.012 '67 -- -- Rolex Submariner 1680 "Ghost" '79 -- -- Rolex SS Daytona 116520 '04 -- |
22 November 2010, 11:28 PM | #14 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Real Name: Saf Ahmed
Location: UK
Posts: 298
|
I think Rolex should do a Ti model/variant.
I for one would be all over it like a bad rash! |
22 November 2010, 11:42 PM | #15 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Real Name: Ashley
Location: Brisbane
Watch: Rolex Sub 1680 '79
Posts: 2,301
|
Ti is hypo-allergenic, so that might be hard
__________________
-- Omega Seamaster Grand-Lux Stepped Pie-Pan 14K Gold OJ2627 '53 --
-- Omega Cal 320 Chronograph 18K Gold OT2872 '58 -- -- Omega Cal 321 Speedmaster Pro 145.012 '67 -- -- Rolex Submariner 1680 "Ghost" '79 -- -- Rolex SS Daytona 116520 '04 -- |
23 November 2010, 03:34 AM | #16 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Annapolis, MD
Watch: Sea-Dweller 16600
Posts: 5,081
|
Titanium watches look horrible. It's just not an attractive metal.
|
23 November 2010, 03:45 AM | #17 |
2024 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Real Name: Eric
Location: Long Beach CA USA
Watch: Rolex Explorer II
Posts: 4,102
|
|
23 November 2010, 03:51 AM | #18 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Real Name: Richard
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Watch: TT DJ
Posts: 4,456
|
Ti threads require anti-seizing compound to prevent this.
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here... Lug Hole Lover® |
23 November 2010, 04:07 AM | #19 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 1,543
|
Titanium is strong but brittle. It's a pretty bad material to make watches out of if you want it to last.
|
23 November 2010, 04:09 AM | #20 |
Banned
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: The Moon
Posts: 1,238
|
not to mention its is less dense metal than steel ...one major attribute for me, for which I have spent thousands on Rolexes is WEIGHT!!! ... I don't want to spend money on a light watch and a sub or deepsea would not be what they are if they do not have weight to them....when I spends thousands, I wanna feel the weight big time .......
|
23 November 2010, 04:21 AM | #21 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Real Name: Steve
Location: Burbank, CA
Watch: 214270 Mark II
Posts: 4,121
|
|
23 November 2010, 04:27 AM | #22 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Julius
Location: Toronto CANADA
Posts: 217
|
IMO,
Ti is soft, brittle and actually not too good for long term watch life. Carbon fibre, ceramics, polymers and mixed use metals may be the next innovation in watch casings for premium Swiss makers. Magnesium has been talked about due to its casting and other benefits but is still far away. As for Ti, it's been done and it makes Rolex look late to the game unless its solely for weight reduction reasons (DSSD). Can't be polished either. PVD your Rolex if a matte look is desired... but don't scratch it up. |
23 November 2010, 04:52 AM | #23 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Watch: ♛
Posts: 4,408
|
Not a fan of Ti on watches. Leave titanium for weight reducing parts i.e. mc exhausts, etc.
__________________
|
23 November 2010, 06:12 AM | #24 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Real Name: Saf Ahmed
Location: UK
Posts: 298
|
|
23 November 2010, 06:52 AM | #25 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: USA
Watch: 126600, 116500LN
Posts: 12,849
|
I've owned two Titanium watches over the years, I flipped them soon after purchase. They scratched easily and felt cheap/light. I prefer SS.
__________________
"I'm kind of a big deal... on a fairly irrelevant social media site that falsely inflates my fragile ego" |
23 November 2010, 07:13 AM | #26 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: Brandon
Location: Toronto, ON
Watch: 116234
Posts: 4,150
|
I like my watch to feel like it's got some weight behind it - 904L seems to do the job quite nicely for me!
Ti would be cool as well though!
__________________
116234 - Blue Concentric Dial - Fluted Bezel - Oyster Bracelet Tudor Black Bay 54 - Rubber Strap |
23 November 2010, 08:28 AM | #27 | |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Real Name: Richard
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Watch: TT DJ
Posts: 4,456
|
Quote:
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here... Lug Hole Lover® |
|
23 November 2010, 11:27 AM | #28 |
"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Real Name: Tony
Location: Buffalo
Watch: 16613 (blue dial)
Posts: 1,329
|
I agree what others have said--I prefer heft to my watch. Want to feel it on my wrist. Ti isn't that. I'll take platinum, gold, or SS over Ti all day long, but to each his own!
|
23 November 2010, 11:44 AM | #29 |
Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Julius
Location: Toronto CANADA
Posts: 217
|
True but, by the time it combusts (if), you've got other things to worry about than the time of day. You'd be charcoal. It's currently being used in automotive engine applications with a pct of aluminum blended in to avoid combustion. I'm not saying its perfect but until engineers figure out something better, stainless steel seems tried and true.
|
23 November 2010, 12:33 PM | #30 |
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Nov 2006
Real Name: Eddie
Location: Australia
Watch: A few.
Posts: 37,534
|
What about a Rolex in CF.
__________________
E |
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | |
|
|
*Banners
Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.